按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to the window； so fearful was he of being recognised as a man by
Bastarnay； and killed before he had made love to the lady。
Therefore he was as joyful as any lover would have been in his place；
when the portcullis was lowered； and the old lord galloped away across
the country。 He had been in such suspense that he made a vow to build
a pillar at his own expense in the cathedral at Tours； because he had
escaped the danger of his mad scheme。 He gave； indeed； fifty gold
marks to pay God for his delight。 But by chance he had to pay for it
over again to the devil； as it appears from the following facts if the
tale pleases you well enough to induce you to follow the narrative；
which will be succinct； as all good speeches should be。
II
HOW BERTHA BEHAVED； KNOWING THE BUSINESS OF LOVE
This bachelor was the young Sire Jehan de Sacchez； cousin of the Sieur
de Montmorency； to whom； by the death of the said Jehan； the fiefs of
Sacchez and other places would return； according to the deed of
tenure。 He was twenty years of age and glowed like a burning coal；
therefore you may be sure that he had a hard job to get through the
first day。 While old Imbert was galloping across the fields； the two
cousins perched themselves under the lantern of the portcullis； in
order to keep him the longer in view； and waved him signals of
farewells。 When the clouds of dust raised by the heels of the horses
were no longer visible upon the horizon； they came down and went into
the great room of the castle。
〃What shall we do； dear cousin？〃 said Bertha to the false Sylvia。 〃Do
you like music？ We will play together。 Let us sing the lay of some
sweet ancient bard。 Eh？ What do you say？ Come to my organ； come along。
As you love me； sing！〃
Then she took Jehan by the hand and led him to the keyboard of the
organ； at which the young fellow seated himself prettily； after the
manner of women。 〃Ah！ sweet coz；〃 cried Bertha； as soon as the first
notes tried； the lad turned his head towards her； in order that they
might sing together。 〃Ah！ sweet coz you have a wonderful glance in
your eye； you move I know not what in my heart。〃
〃Ah！ cousin；〃 replied the false Sylvia； 〃that it is which has been my
ruin。 A sweet milord of the land across the sea told me so often that
I had fine eyes； and kissed them so well； that I yielded； so much
pleasure did I feel in letting them be kissed。〃
〃Cousin； does love then； commence in the eyes？〃
〃In them is the forge of Cupid's bolts； my dear Bertha；〃 said the
lover； casting fire and flame at her。
〃Let us go on with our singing。〃
They then sang； by Jehan's desire； a lay of Christine de Pisan； every
word of which breathed love。
〃Ah！ cousin； what a deep and powerful voice you have。 It seems to
pierce me。〃
〃Where？〃 said the impudent Sylvia。
〃There；〃 replied Bertha； touching her little diaphragm； where the
sounds of love are understood better than by the ears； but the
diaphragm lies nearer the heart； and that which is undoubtedly the
first brain； the second heart； and the third ear of the ladies。 I say
this； with all respect and with all honour； for physical reasons and
for no others。
〃Let us leave off singing；〃 said Bertha； 〃it has too great an effect
upon me。 Come to the window； we can do needlework until the evening。〃
〃Ah！ dear cousin of my soul； I don't know how to hold the needle in my
fingers； having been accustomed； to my perdition to do something else
with them。〃
〃Eh！ what did you do then all day long？〃
〃Ah！ I yielded to the current of love； which makes days seem Instants；
months seem days； and years months； and if it could last； would gulp
down eternity like a strawberry； seeing that it is all youth and
fragrance； sweetness and endless joy。〃
Then the youth dropped his beautiful eyelids over his eyes； and
remained as melancholy as a poor lady who has been abandoned by her
lover； who weeps for him； wishes to kiss him； and would pardon his
perfidy； if he would but seek once again the sweet path to his once…
loved fold。
〃Cousin； does love blossom in the married state？〃
〃Oh no；〃 said Sylvia； 〃because in the married state everything is
duty； but in love everything is done in perfect freedom of heart。 This
difference communicates an indescribable soft balm to those caresses
which are the flowers of love。〃
〃Cousin； let us change the conversation； it affects me more than did
the music。〃
She called hastily to a servant to bring her boy to her； who came； and
when Sylvia saw him； she exclaimed
〃Ah！ the little dear； he is as beautiful as love。〃
Then she kissed him heartily upon the forehead。
〃Come； my little one；〃 said the mother； as the child clambered into
her lap。 〃Thou art thy mother's blessing； her unclouded joy； the
delight of her every hour； her crown； her jewel； her own pure pearl；
her spotless soul； her treasure； her morning and evening star； her
only flame； and her heart's darling。 Give me thy hands； that I may eat
them； give me thine ears； that I may bite them； give me thy head； that
I may kiss thy curls。 Be happy sweet flower of my body； that I may be
happy too。〃
〃Ah！ cousin；〃 said Sylvia； 〃you are speaking the language of love to
him。〃
〃Love is a child then？〃
〃Yes； cousin； therefore the heathen always portrayed him as a little
boy。〃
And with many other remarks fertile in the imagery of love； the two
pretty cousins amused themselves until supper time； playing with the
child。
〃Would you like to have another？〃 whispered Jehan； at an opportune
moment； into his cousin's ear； which he touched with his warm lips。
〃Ah！ Sylvia！ for that I would ensure a hundred years of purgatory； if
it would only please God to give me that joy。 But in spite of the
work； labour； and industry of my spouse； which causes me much pain； my
waist does not vary in size。 Alas！ It is nothing to have but one
child。 If I hear the sound of a cry in the castle； my heart beats
ready to burst。 I fear man and beast alike for this innocent darling；
I dread volts； passes； and manual exercises； in fact； I dread
everything。 I live not in myself； but in him alone。 And； alas！ I like
to endure these miseries； because when I fidget； and tremble； it is a
sign that my offspring is safe and sound。 To be brieffor I am never
weary of talking on this subjectI believe that my breath is in him；
and not in myself。〃
With these words she hugged him to her breasts； as only mothers know
how to hug children； with a spiritual force that is felt only in their
hearts。 If you doubt this； watch a cat carrying her kittens in her
mouth； not one of them gives a single mew。 The youthful gallant； who
had certain fears about watering this fair； unfertile plain； was
reassured by this speech。 He thought then that it would only be
following the commandments of God to win this saint to love； and he
thought right。 At night Bertha asked her cousinaccordi